A press conference by US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday was briefly disrupted as Secret Service agents escorted the leader away after a shooting in the vicinity.
Trump, who was addressing a coronavirus briefing, returned minutes later and said there had been a shooting outside the White House and the situation was "under control".
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought were also taken out of the briefing room by the Secret Service. Trump told reporters he was taken to the Oval Office.
The White House was placed on lockdown after the shooting incident, which took place "near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue just blocks from the White House".
The US Secret Service confirmed there "has been an officer involved shooting". The alleged perpetrator and a Secret Service officer were taken to hospital. The Secret Service tweeted, "Update: the investigation into a USSS [US Secret Service] officer involved shooting is ongoing. A male subject and a USSS officer were both transported to a local hospital. At no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger."
Trump praised the work of the Secret Service personnel. Trump was quoted by NBC News as saying, "It seems to be very well under control. It's unfortunate that this is the world but the world has always been a dangerous place. It's not something that's unique."
When asked whether he was shaken by the incident, Trump replied, "I don't know. Do I seem rattled?"
